agriculture is a Cycle
Objective
Students will make bracelets to illustrate the different cycles of life.
Background
PEoPLE moVE in CyCLES. We get up in the morning, work, play and
go to bed at night. Then we get up in the morning and start it all again. We
start to school in the fall, stop in the summer, then start in the fall again. We
eat breakfast, lunch and dinner, then wake up the next day and have to eat
again.
Agriculture is a cycle. Farmers plant crops in spring, nurture them during
winter and harvest them in the fall. in the winter, the land rests to prepare for
springtime, when the cycle starts again. Without this cycle of agriculture,
people could not survive. There would be no food to eat, no sheets to sleep
on, no shelter, no medicines, no balls or playing fields for playing games.
The cycles of agriculture are powered by abundant natural resources—
soil, water, and energy from the sun. People are a resource, too. Because people have learned to use their resources wisely, America’s farmers and ranchers produce16 percent of the world’s food on just 7 percent of the world’s
land.
WATEr moVES in CyCLES. All of the Earth’s water can be found in
one of the three states of matter—solid, liquid or gas. Water goes through all
three states of matter in the water cycle. The water cycle is the continuous
movement of the water from the Earth to atmosphere and back again. next to
air, water is the most abundant substance on the planet.
The heat from the sun causes water to rise into the sky. This is evaporation.
The water collects in the clouds, and the clouds become heavy with
water. As the gaseous water moves upward, it runs into cooler air. in the
cooler air the gaseous water condenses and becomes rain droplets or ice crystals. This is condensation.
The rain and snow that is formed this way falls to the ground. This is
called precipitation.
As the water falls to the ground it collects in oceans, rivers, lakes and
streams. This is called accumulation.
most of the precipitation falls in the oceans and seas. Some of it evaporates and goes back into the air. The rest reaches the ground and soaks into
the earth to become part of the groundwater supply which accumulates in
lakes and streams.
Without water, we could not survive. Farmers could not grow the crops
that feed and clothe us. most of the water used by crops comes from precipitation, but sometimes farmers must use precious groundwater for watering
crops so we will all have enough food to eat. This is called irrigation. Good
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Oklahoma C3
Standards
Grade 1
Science Process—1.2; 2.1;
3.1,2,3; 4.3
Physical Science—1.3
Life Science—2.1
Earth Science—3.1,2
Social Studies PALS—
1.A.3, B.4; 2.A.2, C.7;
3.B.4
Social Studies Content—
1.5; 3.2; 4.2
Physical Education—1.2,3;
2.2; 3.1; 4.4; 5.4; 7.1
Visual Art—3.1,2
Common CorE
Language Arts—1.W.6;
1.SL.1,2,3,4,5,6;
1.L1,2,5,6
Grade 2
Science Process—3.1,2,3;
4.3
Life Science—2.1
Earth Science—3.2
Social Studies PALS—
1.A.3, B.4; 2.A.2, C.7;
3.B.4
Social Studies Content—
1.5; 3.4; 4.4
Physical Education—1.1;
2.2; 3.1; 5.2
Visual Art—3.1,2
Common CorE
Language Arts—2.rL.2;
2.rFS.3d;
2.W.2,5,7,8; 2.SL.1,2,3,4,6;
2.L.1,2,3,4cde
(Continued on next page.)
Grade 3
Science Process—1.1,2;
2.1; 3.1,2,3; 4.3
Plant Science—2.3
Social Studies PALS—
1.A.3, B.5; 2.A.2, C.7;
3.B.4
Social Studies Content—
1.4; 2.3; 3.1ad; 4.1,8,11
Physical Education—1.3;
3.3; 5.3
Visual Art—3.1,2
Common CorE
Language Arts—3.rFS.3a;
3.W.2,3,4,5;
3.SL.1,2,3,4,6;
3.L.1,2,3,4a,5
Grade 4
Science Process—1.1,2;
3.1,2,3
Social Studies PALS—
1.A.3,B.5; 2.A.2,B.7;
3.B.4
Social Studies Content—
1.2d, 4
Physical Education—1.2;
6.3
Visual Arts—3.1
Common CorE
Language Arts—4.rL.9;
2.riT.4;
4.rFS.3a; 4.W.2,3;
4.SL.1,2,4,6;
4.L.1,2,3,5c,6
Grade 5
Science Process—1.1,2;
3.1,2,3
Life Science—2.1
Earth Science—3.2
Visual Arts—3.1
Common CorE
Language Arts—
5.riT.4,10; 5.rFS.3a;
5.W.2,3,4,5; 5.SL.2;
5.L.4,5c,6,10
farmers are very careful to make the most efficient use of water used on
crops.
PLAnTS And SoiL moVE in CyCLES. Plants grow in soil. They
provide food for animals. Animals provide food for other animals. Plants and
animals die and decompose, contributing to new soil. new plants grow.
decomposition is nature’s way of taking life and energy from dead plants
and animals and changing it so new plants can use it. Bacteria and fungus eat
the dead tissue from plants and excrete it in a form that helps live plants
grow. These decomposers are so small you can’t see them except when they
are all massed together. That’s the green, white or blue and furry stuff you’ve
probably seen growing on food you keep in the refrigerator too long.
Earthworms, land snails, slugs and even fly larva (maggots) are also important decomposers.
in nature dead plants and animals decompose and become humus for the
soil. Humus acts as sponge to help the soil hold water. it also traps air in the
soil. Plants need air and water in the soil to grow. When the farmer plants
crops in the soil, the growing crops take out nutrients. The farmer can replace
those nutrients by tilling dead plants back into the soil and letting the decomposers go to work.
EArTH moVES in CyCLES. Earth rotates on its axis. it takes 365
days for the Earth to revolve around the Sun. As it revolves, moving nearer
and farther from the sun, it gives us the cycle of seasons—spring, summer,
fall and winter. With every 24-hour revolution, the Earth gives us the cycle
of day and night
Summer Solstice, around June 21, is the longest day of the year. Winter
Solstice, around december 21, is the shortest. in the spring and fall are equinox, days when the hours of light and dark are the same. Spring Equinox is
usually around march 21, and Autumn Equinox is around September 21.
All over the world people mark the seasons with festivals associated with
agriculture. in spring we celebrate new life. on the farm the fields start to
turn green, and there are baby animals everywhere. Farmers plant most of
their crops in spring.
The summer sun makes everything grow and is the busiest time on the
farm. Even the school year is based on a time when most everyone was
involved in agriculture. Summer break was time off from school, so children
could help on the farm. Fields had to be hoed to keep the weeds out. Crops
had to be fertilized and protected from insects and other pests. mid-summer
celebrations provided rest from summer chores and relief from the heat.
Fall celebrations began as harvest festivals. After working from dawn to
dusk for weeks at a time to get the crops in, it was time to celebrate the fruits
of all that labor.
in winter work on the farm slows down. it is time for planning for the
following growing season. Winter celebrations remind us that the dark, cold
days will not last forever, and that the cycle will soon bring spring.
Air moVES in CyCLES. Carbon dioxide gas is a colorless, odorless
gas that is part of our atmosphere. it is formed by respiration (breathing),
combustion (burning), chemical reaction and decomposition (rotting). Carbon
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dioxide is present in all organic matter.
Animals breathe in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. Plants take in
carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, use it to make food, and give off
oxygen. Animals breathe it in again. This is known as the carbon cycle.
Agriculture keeps land covered with crops and trees. Scientists have
found that keeping crops and trees growing helps take up extra carbon
dioxide through photosynthesis. in oklahoma we have about 34 million
acres planted in crops and about 10 million acres in forest.
THE Sun moVES in CyCLES. The sun provides energy for all of
the Earth’s circles. Without the sun, plants and animals would not survive. All sources of fuel are a result of the sun’s power.
only one two-billionth of the heat from the sun enters the Earth’s
atmosphere. The rest is lost in space. of the energy (heat) that enters the
atmosphere, about 30 percent is reflected back to space because of the
clouds. About 30 percent of the energy is absorbed by the atmosphere
and warms the air. Then about 40 percent of the energy in the atmosphere reaches the earth’s surface to warm the ground and the seas. Heat
from the ground and the seas will then warm the atmosphere.
Plants must have sun to grow. Plants convert the energy from the sun
into energy we can use. The plants we can grow in oklahoma depend on
the length of our growing seasons - the number of days from the time of
the last frost in the spring to the first frost in the fall. Some plants, like
garden peas and lettuce, can survive light frost and cooler temperature
but don’t do well in the extreme heat of oklahoma summers. others, like
okra and eggplant, love the heat. Certain plants also need more hours of
sunlight than others. The world is divided into growing zones, dependent
upon the number of days between the first and last frost. oklahoma is
Language arts
1. discuss the words “cycle” and “circle.”
—Ask students what they think of when they hear the word “cycle”
(motorcycle, bicycle, tricycle).
—Write the word “cycle” on the chalkboard, followed by the words
“motorcycle,” “bicycle” and “tricycle.”
—What do all these words have in common?
—Brainstorm answers to the question: “What is a life cycle?”
—Have students write short papers or draw pictures to explain the
meaning of the term “life cycle.”
3. introduce students to the Farmer’s Almanac (www.farmer’s
almanac.com).
—Students will devise their own research questions based on information available in the Farmer’s Almanac.
—discuss the origins of folk lore. Students will research folklore
related to the weather and planting.
—Students will interview some older farmers and gardeners to collect local folklore about planting and the weather.
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Materials
(for each bracelet)
12- to 14-inch thin brown
leather cording
small pony bead (one each in
the following colors):
clear (people)
blue (water)
green (plants)
brown (soil)
orange or red (day)
black (night)
white (air)
yellow (sun)
red cabbage juice
zip-closing bag
three clear, short, fat cups
two balloons
one bottle of club soda
zip-closing bags
small paper drinking cups
tape
Science
Vocabulary
accumulation—gathering,
especially little by little
axis—a straight line about
which a body or a geometric
figure rotates or may be supposed to rotate
carbon dioxide—a heavy colorless gas that does not support
burning, dissolves in water to
form carbonic acid, is formed
especially by the burning and
breaking down of organic substances (as in animal respiration), is absorbed from the air
by plants in photosynthesis,
and has many industrial uses
circle—a line segment that is
curved so that its ends meet
and every point on the line is
equally far away from a single
point inside
condensation—changing from
a less dense to a denser form
(e.g, steam condenses into
water)
cycle—a series of events or
operations that happen again
and again regularly and usually
lead back to the starting point
decompose— to separate a
thing into its parts or into simpler compounds
energy—usable power (as heat
or electricity)
evaporate—to pass off or
cause to pass off into vapor
from a liquid state
(Continued on next page.)
1. Tell students they will be making bracelets to help them remember
the different cycles of life.
—Print copies of Student Worksheets A and B front to back.
—Cut them into instruction cards.
—Hand out one leather strip and a set of beads for each student along
with an instruction card.
—Have each student tie a knot at one end of a leather cord.
—Beginning with the clear “people” bead, have students string the
colored beads in the order shown on the card.
—read and discuss background information for each cycle as students string their bracelets.
2. Have students work in groups to create posters to illustrate the different life cycles, using the color designated to represent each cycle as
the predominant color.
3. use this experiment to demonstrate the carbon dioxide (air) cycle:
—Tear up several leaves of red cabbage and put them in a zip-closing
bag.
—Pour hot water over the cabbage, and zip the bag shut.
—Let the cabbage steep in the water until the water is blue and cold.
—Pour the liquid into a cup.
—discard the bag and cabbage.
—Explain that cabbage juice is an indicator (a substance which indicates the presence, absence or concentration of a substance) because
it contains a natural chemical that changes colors, based on whether a
substance is an acid or a base, and that carbon dioxide makes carbonic acid when dissolved in water.
—Label three cups as follows: control, club soda, breath.
—divide the cabbage juice equally among the three cups.
—Blow up a balloon, and let the air out of it.
—open the club soda, and quickly put the balloon on the bottle
mouth.
—Let the balloon stay on the bottle until it inflates.
—Twist the balloon closed, and take it off the bottle.
—Hold the end of the balloon in the cup labeled “club soda,” and
slowly release the gas from the balloon into the cabbage juice.
—Blow up another balloon, and twist it to hold your breath in.
—Hold the end of that balloon over the cup labeled “breath,” and
slowly release its contents into the cabbage juice.
—Leave one cup of cabbage juice alone to serve as the control cup.
—Compare the three cups.
—Have students record their observations.
4. monitor several spots in the school yard to find out how many hours
of sunlight they get in a day.
—on a sunny day, check the locations once an hour, and place a
marker for every hour the sun is shining in that spot.
—use plant books or seed catalogs to research which plants can grow
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in which spot, based on the hours of sunlight.
5. Have students research the first and last frost in your area and calculate the length of the growing season.
6. Conduct this experiment to demonstrate the water cycle:
—Give each student a paper drinking cup and a seal-locking bag.
—instruct students to hold the bag by one corner so it is in a diamond
shape.
—Tape the cup inside the bag to avoid slippage.
—Put two ounces of water in each cup.
—Seal the bags, and tape them to a sunny window.
—Have students record what they observe after 10 minutes, 30 minutes, two days and four days. (The water should evaporate from the
cup, condense on the sides of the bag and collect in the bottom of the
bag.)
Social Studies
1. oklahoma has many festivals in the summer to celebrate and promote
the crops that grow well in a particular area.
—Have students research ag-related festivals in your part of the state
and locate other ag-related festivals statewide. (oklahoma
department of Tourism website would be a good place to start:
http://www.travelok.com)
—Have students map the festivals on a large map of oklahoma and
chart the mileage from your town to each of the festivals.
2. Have students research to find examples of ag-related celebrations
around the world.
3. Have students create a circular timeline showing the school year and
holidays associated with agriculture (planting and harvest).
Information Technology
1. Have students keep track of the weather for several days and compare
with predictions found on weather websites (www.farmer’s
almanac.com, mezonet, Weatherbug, etc).
2. Have students research the phases of the moon by looking in the
encyclopedia, searching the library card catalog or using an online
search engine.
Physical education
Teach students “The Circle dance” to bluegrass music or the song
"rocky Top," or "dancing in the Street," teach the following moves:
—Face right; take eight steps; turn; take seven steps to the left.
—Beginning on your right foot, take four steps inside the circle. on
the fourth step, turn and step back four steps.
—Pat pat, clap clap; partners clap clap; turn around.
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Vocabulary (Cont.)
fungus—any of a kingdom of
living things (as molds, rusts,
mildews, smuts, and mushrooms) that lack chlorophyll,
are parasitic or live on dead or
decaying organic matter, and
were formerly considered
plants
groundwater—water within
the earth that supplies wells
and springs
irrigation—supplying with
water by artificial means
nurture—to further the development of
photosynthesis—the process
by which plants that contain
chlorophyll make carbohydrates from water and from
carbon dioxide in the air in the
presence of light
precipitation—water or the
amount of water that falls to
the earth as hail, mist, rain,
sleet, or snow
resource— a usable stock or
supply
revolve—to move in an orbit
season—one of the four quarters into which the year is
commonly divided
survive—to remain alive :
continue to exist
extra reading
Water Cycle Song
(to the tune of “oh, my
darlin’”)
EVAPorATion
(Push both palms up, palms
parallel to floor.),
ditchfield, Christin, Water (True Books; natural resources), Children's,
2003.
Ernst, Lisa Campbell, Round Like a Ball, Blue Apple, 2008.
Kirkland, Jane, Take a City Nature Walk, Stillwater, 2005.
Lindbo, david, SOIL! Get the Inside Scoop, American Society of
Agronomy, 2008.
mcKneally, ranida, and Grace Lin, Our Seasons, Charlesbridge, 2007.
nardi, James B., The World Beneath Our Feet: A Guide to Life in the
Soil, oxford, 2003.
Peterson, Cris, Amazing Grazing, Boyd mills, 2002.
Sidman, Joyce, and Beckie Prange, Song of the Waterboatman and Other
Pond Poems, Houghton-mifflin, 2005.
Toupin, Laurie, Freshwater Habitats: Life in Freshwater Ecosystems,
Children's, (Watts Library) 2005.
CondEnSATion,
(Push with arms straight out to
the side.),
PrECiPiTATion on my head.
(Pretend to "rain" on head.)
ACCumuLATion, (make
arms sweep back and forth in
front.)
WATEr CyCLE,
(Arms rotate in circle in
front.)
And we start all over again
(Turn around in place in a circle.)
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agriculture is a Cycle
PEoPLE moVE in CyCLES. The Earth provides us
with what we need to survive. We must take care of our valuable resources.
WATEr iS A CyCLE. Water rains on the land. it collects in oceans, rivers, lakes and streams. it then evaporates,
rises into the sky and collects in clouds. The clouds become
heavy with water, and rain falls down to land again.
PLAnTS And SoiL ArE CyCLES. Plants grow in
soil. They provide food for animals. Animals provide food for
other animals. Plants and animals die and decompose, contributing to new soil. new plants grow.
EArTH iS A CyCLE. Earth rotates on its axis, revolving around the Sun. The Earth and Sun give us the circle of
seasons and the circle of day and night.
Air iS A CyCLE. Animals breathe in oxygen and
exhale carbon dioxide. Plants take in carbon dioxide, use it to
make food, and give off oxygen. Animals breathe it in again.
THE Sun iS A CyCLE. The sun provides warmth and
light for all of the Earth’s circles. Without the sun, plants and
animals would not survive. The sun binds us together.
PEoPLE moVE in CyCLES. The Earth provides us
with what we need to survive. We must take care of our valuable resources.
WATEr iS A CyCLE. Water rains on the land. it collects in oceans, rivers, lakes and streams. it then evaporates,
rises into the sky and collects in clouds. The clouds become
heavy with water, and rain falls down to land again.
PLAnTS And SoiL ArE CyCLES. Plants grow in
soil. They provide food for animals. Animals provide food for
other animals. Plants and animals die and decompose, contributing to new soil. new plants grow.
EArTH iS A CyCLE. Earth rotates on its axis, revolving around the Sun. The Earth and Sun give us the circle of
seasons and the circle of day and night.
Air iS A CyCLE. Animals breathe in oxygen and
exhale carbon dioxide. Plants take in carbon dioxide, use it to
make food, and give off oxygen. Animals breathe it in again.
THE Sun iS A CyCLE. The sun provides warmth and
light for all of the Earth’s circles. Without the sun, plants and
animals would not survive. The sun binds us together.
PEoPLE moVE in CyCLES. The Earth provides us
with what we need to survive. We must take care of our valuable resources.
WATEr iS A CyCLE. Water rains on the land. it collects in oceans, rivers, lakes and streams. it then evaporates,
rises into the sky and collects in clouds. The clouds become
heavy with water, and rain falls down to land again.
PLAnTS And SoiL ArE CyCLES. Plants grow in
soil. They provide food for animals. Animals provide food for
other animals. Plants and animals die and decompose, contributing to new soil. new plants grow.
EArTH iS A CyCLE. Earth rotates on its axis, revolving around the Sun. The Earth and Sun give us the circle of
seasons and the circle of day and night.
Air iS A CyCLE. Animals breathe in oxygen and
exhale carbon dioxide. Plants take in carbon dioxide, use it to
make food, and give off oxygen. Animals breathe it in again.
THE Sun iS A CyCLE. The sun provides warmth and
light for all of the Earth’s circles. Without the sun, plants and
animals would not survive. The sun binds us together.
PEoPLE moVE in CyCLES. The Earth provides us
with what we need to survive. We must take care of our valuable resources.
WATEr iS A CyCLE. Water rains on the land. it collects in oceans, rivers, lakes and streams. it then evaporates,
rises into the sky and collects in clouds. The clouds become
heavy with water, and rain falls down to land again.
PLAnTS And SoiL ArE CyCLES. Plants grow in
soil. They provide food for animals. Animals provide food for
other animals. Plants and animals die and decompose, contributing to new soil. new plants grow.
EArTH iS A CyCLE. Earth rotates on its axis, revolving around the Sun. The Earth and Sun give us the circle of
seasons and the circle of day and night.
Air iS A CyCLE. Animals breathe in oxygen and
exhale carbon dioxide. Plants take in carbon dioxide, use it to
make food, and give off oxygen. Animals breathe it in again.
THE Sun iS A CyCLE. The sun provides warmth and
light for all of the Earth’s circles. Without the sun, plants and
animals would not survive. The sun binds us together.
oklahoma Ag in the Classroom is a program of the oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, the oklahoma
department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, and the oklahoma State department of Education.
agriculture is a Cycle
agriculture is a Cycle
agriculture is a Cycle
make a bracelet to help you remember the
cycles of life. Tie a knot at one end of the
leather cord. String the beads in the following order.
clear = people
blue = water
green = plants
brown = soil
orange or red = day
black = night
white = air
yellow = sun
make a bracelet to help you remember the
cycles of life. Tie a knot at one end of the
leather cord. String the beads in the following order.
clear = people
blue = water
green = plants
brown = soil
orange or red = day
black = night
white = air
yellow = sun
agriculture is a Cycle
agriculture is a Cycle
make a bracelet to help you remember the
cycles of life. Tie a knot at one end of the
leather cord. String the beads in the following order.
clear = people
blue = water
green = plants
brown = soil
orange or red = day
black = night
white = air
yellow = sun
make a bracelet to help you remember the
cycles of life. Tie a knot at one end of the
leather cord. String the beads in the following order.
clear = people
blue = water
green = plants
brown = soil
orange or red = day
black = night
white = air
yellow = sun
oklahoma Ag in the Classroom is a program of the oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, the oklahoma
department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, and the oklahoma State department of Education.